Depending on the severity, your sunburn can involve painful, itchy skin, peeling and even a fever. But fear not! Below are some simple ways to soothe the burn, ditch the itch and prevent a sunburn from happening in the first place.
Relieving a sunburn
A sunburn can lead to discomfort and even sleepless nights. These tips will help you minimize the pain and deal with the inevitable peel and other common sunburn symptoms.
- Soak it up. The simplest way to ease the pain of sunburn is to immerse your skin in a cool bath. If the burn covers only a small part of your body, try a washcloth soaked in cool water instead.
- Raid the fridge. Your kitchen is filled with products that can swiftly soothe your sunburn. A washcloth soaked with yogurt or a splash of vinegar can relieve pain. To curb post-burn itching, apply baking soda or cornstarch where needed, according to Patricia K. Farris, M.D., professor of dermatology at Tulane University in New Orleans.
- Take to the store. Covering your burn with an over-the-counter topical ointment also provides temporary relief. Look for ointments that contain lidocaine and aloe vera.
- Take two. A small dose of aspirin helps lessen the pain, itching, swelling and mild fever that sometimes accompanies a sunburn. In The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies, dermatologist Rodney Basler, M.D., recommends taking two aspirin every four hours or the same dose of Tylenol. If your stomach isn’t sensitive, he says that you can try three to four ibuprofen every eight hours.
- Treat it with tea. Drinking green tea is great for your health. But do you know it can also be used as a topical ointment for sunburn? "Green tea, once cooled can be applied to sunburned skin to reduce the redness,” dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, M.D., Ph.D, tells AOL Health. "Or, you can place green tea in the refrigerator, put it into a spray bottle and spray it onto sun burnt skin."
- Layer with lotion. Generously apply a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic lotion over any sunburned areas to keep your peeling to a minimum. Try a light non-greasy body lotion like ATOPALM MLE Body Lotion or an aloe vera-based lotion like Melvita Essentials Aloe Vera Soft Moisturizing Balm.
- See a doctor. According to Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., if your sunburn includes a high fever, lots of blisters or severe pain or doesn’t start getting better in several days, consult your doctor.
Preventing a sunburn
Here are some practical and effective ways to keep you — and your skin — safe year round.
- Skip the sun. It’s impossible to shun the sunshine altogether. Instead, try to limit your sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
- Slather on sunscreen. Your best bet for effective skin protection is sunscreen. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that also protects against UVA and UVB rays, such as La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid. Wear sunscreen every day, whether it’s cloudy, sunny or raining.
- Cover it up. We all know summer is the season to expose some skin. But opt for covering up more than you normally would, especially on the beach. Tight-knit, dark fabrics offer additional protection. You can also invest in sun protective clothing, which has an ultraviolet protection factor or UPF. Plus, be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat.
While these tips are useful for reducing a sunburn’s pain, itching, swelling and peeling, prevention is still the key. Make protecting your skin a priority and you’ll stay sunburn-free all summer long!
See also:
10 Things You Need to Know About Preventing Skin Cancer
Sun Protection from Head to Toe
Aloe Vera